A Seymour company has plans to expand its business by offering a new service to its customers.
SpaceGuard Products has a “unique opportunity” to purchase and refurbish industrial racks as they come out of existing industrial buildings and resell it for a higher value, said SpaceGuard President Eddie Murphy.
“It’s a great opportunity for us,” he said. “We look to add some jobs with this and bring some new revenue into the city.”
The company received a favorable recommendation Thursday night from the Seymour Plan Commission with a vote of 7-0 on a request for a land use variance for its property at 711 S. Commerce Drive on the city’s far southeast side.
Building Commissioner Jeremy Gray said SpaceGuard would like to use 1.7 acres of a vacant lot on the east side of its building for outdoor storage of materials, which is not allowed under their current industrial zoning classification of I-1.
Murphy said the intention is to use the property to store the industrial rack components outside of SpaceGuard’s building. Any fabrication or refinishing work would be done inside the building, he added.
“It would be purely for storage purposes,” he said of the property.
Formed in 1990 from the consolidation of Logan Wire Co. and Ford Fence Co., SpaceGuard Products manufactures woven and welded wire partitions and area guarding products, including wire mesh storage lockers, rack safety panels, aisle guarding and mezzanine rail guarding.
Standard and custom products are produced for a wide array of uses, including machine and robotic guarding, computer security cages, tenant storage lockers, tool cribs, pharmaceutical cages and warehouse and retail security.
Murphy said two goals he has for the property are to have ample screening around it, including fencing for security that will allow trucks access for loading and unloading and natural vegetation landscaping so as not to take away from the view entering Seymour from Interstate 65.
“Just so you know, it won’t be up on the interstate side. It’s on the back of the building,” Gray told board members.
The second goal of the project is to add a quarter-acre retention pond to help with storm-water runoff issues in the area that create problems for SpaceGuard and neighboring properties, Murphy said.
Commissioner Dan Robison abstained from voting on the request because of his role as president of the Seymour Chamber of Commerce. Also, commissioners Mark Hays, Don Bruce and John Reinhart were absent. At the end of the meeting, Gray announced Reinhart had resigned from the board and would be replaced by Susie Bowman at the next meeting.
SpaceGuard’s request now goes before the Seymour Board of Zoning Appeals for a final vote at 7 p.m. April 27.
In other business:
The plan commission gave favorable recommendations to two other land use variances for local residents wanting to start their own businesses. Both requests must go before the BZA at 7 p.m. on April 27 for a final vote.
- The first was a request from Francisco Miguel for property at 422 1/2 East Third Street to use an existing garage to make and sell protein shakes. Through a translator, Miguel said the drinks would be made and sold to go, not to be consumed on site. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. He also said he planned to create more parking by adding two or three spots in front of the garage. The board approved the request with a vote of 6-2 with Commissioners Dave Eggers and Gary Colglazier casting the dissenting votes.
- The second request came from Kolby Tatom for property at 107 N. Fourth Street Road to turn an existing 700-square foot garage into a shop to sell skateboard equipment. Tatom said he has no plans at this time to need a bigger commercial location. “I’d like to keep it there indefinitely,” he said. “Mainly it’s going to be for kids to come and buy a skateboard and get some new grip tape when they need it and not have to drive to Bloomington.” Commissioner Bret Cunningham said the property has good frontage. “It seems to be a pretty good spot to have a business, I think,” Tatom said. Gray said he received no negative feedback from neighbors. As for signage, Tatom said he would like to be able to place a small yard sign at the intersection of North Fourth Street Road and Fourth Street. “Most of my advertising will be online,” he said. “I don’t have any plans for any large signage.” Gray recommended the sign be located in front of the business instead of on city property. The board approved the request with a vote of 7-1. Colglazier cast the only dissenting vote.